Pakistan Army Chief Intervenes in Political Crisis

Military Mediates Dispute Between Government and Protesters, Signaling Power Loss for Prime Minister

By

Saeed Shah

Updated Aug. 28, 2014 7:01 p.m. ET

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan's powerful army chief intervened publicly in the country's political crisis late Thursday, agreeing to mediate between the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and protesters demanding his resignation, government and military officials said.

The move follows a backroom political deal that government officials privately said ceded important powers over defense and foreign policy from the government to the...